112 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1963 



wilsoni) was secured through the kindly interest of W. J. C. Frost, 

 of the Zoological Society of London. 



Two shipments of African sunbirds collected by John Seago were 

 received. These little feathered jewels, representing three species, 

 were the first ever exhibited in this Zoo. 



Three specimens of the showy Cuban trogon {Prinotelus teTnnurus) 

 were obtained. 



A golden eagle {Aquila chrysaetos) , which had been captured in 

 the Tennessee region, was turned over to the Zoo by the United States 

 Fish and Wildlife Service. Golden eagles are rather rare in the 

 southeastern United States and so this specimen is of more than 

 ordinary interest. 



Of particular interest in a shipment received from Australia were : 



Two examples of the very rare Australian frilled lizard {Chlarrvy- 

 dosaurus kingii). These are the first ever exhibited in this Zoo. 

 They are large lizards and unique in having around the neck a fold 

 of skin that can be extended to project outward from the neck like a 

 ruff when the animal is excited. The red coloration in the ruff makes 

 a striking display. 



Six bearded lizards {Amphiholurus harhatus), so-called because of 

 their peculiar habit of distending the loose skin of the throat to form 

 what appears to be a beard. 



Three beautiful specimens of the poisonous banded krait {Bungarus 

 fasciatus), relatives of the cobras, were received. 



A specimen of the false cobra {Phrynonax sulphureus), not pre- 

 viously exhibited in this Zoo, was purchased. 



With the gi'owth of the W^ashington metropolitan region there has 

 been a constant increase in the number of local wild creatures found 

 helpless and rescued by kind people, and turned over to the Zoo. Some 

 of those that seem to have a fair chance of survival are liberated, and 

 some are exchanged for material that is needed for the Zoo. During 

 the past year there was a total of 191 such accessions. Also, ducks 

 and rabbits given to children at Easter time that have outgrown their 

 homes are turned over to the Zoo. This gives unduly large accession 

 and removal lists, but to receive, care for, and place such creatures ap- 

 pears to be a proper function of the Zoo. 



BIRTHS AND HATCHINGS 



Conditions under which animals are kept on exhibition are usually 

 not favorable for breeding or raising young. However, occasionally 

 young are born or hatched that are of outstanding interest to the pub- 

 lic, and are valuable as additions to the group, or for exchange. 



